Compare Printers

19 ranked products · Two to 4 at a time · Updated 13 Sept 2026

Pick any two to four of the 19 ranked printers and read them side by side. This page opens on the board's top 3, Epson EcoTank ET-2980, Brother HL-L2460DW and Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850.

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Printers compared side by side. Each column is one product, each row is one measure taken from the same research that built the board.
Measure	Epson Epson EcoTank ET-2980	Brother Brother HL-L2460DW	Epson Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850	Brother Brother MFC-L3780CDW	Brother Brother MFC-L2900DW XL	Brother Brother MFC-L8930CDW	HP HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e	Epson Epson EcoTank ET-3950	Epson Epson EcoTank ET-5850	Brother Brother MFC-J4355DW	Canon Canon imageCLASS MF753Cdw II	Brother Brother MFC-T780DW	HP HP LaserJet M209d	Brother Brother MFC-L2820DW	Epson Epson Expression Home XP-4200	Canon Canon PIXMA TR4720	Canon Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3290	HP HP Envy Inspire 7955e	HP HP DeskJet 2855e
Tier	S	A	A	A	A	B	B	C	C	C	C	C	D	D	F	F	F	F	F
Rank on this board	1 of 19	2 of 19	3 of 19	4 of 19	5 of 19	6 of 19	7 of 19	8 of 19	9 of 19	10 of 19	11 of 19	12 of 19	13 of 19	14 of 19	15 of 19	16 of 19	17 of 19	18 of 19	19 of 19
Ladder points	1052 LP	793 LP	714 LP	662 LP	649 LP	560 LP	552 LP	452 LP	442 LP	403 LP	369 LP	367 LP	300 LP	278 LP	179 LP	83 LP	81 LP	0 LP	0 LP
Our verdict	The RTINGS “best home printer” roundup lists it as the top choice for everyday use, citing its low running cost, easy refill system, and solid print quality.	Wirecutter’s “best laser printer” guide names it the best monochrome laser for home use, noting its clear text output and easy wireless connectivity.	The most versatile all-in-one with the highest speed, capacity, and lowest long-term cost.	PCMag’s 2026 “best printers” article highlights it as the best all-in-one for small offices, commending its speed, duplex scanning, and user-friendly interface.	XL version adds a larger paper capacity without compromising reliability.	Slow and expensive to run. Not worth the cost.	Wirecutter’s “best printers” roundup calls it the best overall home printer, citing its fast printing, integrated app, and low ink cost.	Wirecutter’s 2026 “best printers” guide names it the best all-in-one for photo-ready output, noting its straightforward setup and high-resolution color prints.	RTINGS.com lists it as the best small-office printer, praising its fast speed, generous paper capacity, and low cost-per-page.	Inkjet all-in-one balances cost per page with reliable operation.	Tom’s Guide’s 2026 “best all-in-one printers” list names it the best overall, praising its high-quality color prints, fast speed, and robust build.	Strong ink-tank system but slower than the top picks.	Consumer Reports’ “best printers” list includes it as a good monochrome laser, but the review points out its lack of Wi-Fi and higher toner cost per page compared to newer models, reducing its long-term value.	RTINGS.com lists it as the best cheap printer, pointing out its reliable performance, simple setup, and good value for budget buyers.	RTINGS.com lists it as the best cheap printer for occasional use, highlighting its simple setup and adequate print quality for everyday documents.	Unreliable ink system, frequent errors, poor long-term reliability.	Poor color accuracy and fragile build. Avoid for serious work.	PCMag’s 2026 “best printers” guide lists it as the best home printer for photo-ready output, noting its high-resolution color prints and easy Wi-Fi setup.	High maintenance cost and frequent printhead issues.
What reviewers rate	Low running cost per print Easy refill system Solid print quality Affordable ink-tank model	Clear text output Easy wireless connectivity Low running cost Reliable monochrome laser	All-in-one ink-tank system Very high print speed Large ink capacity Low running cost	Speed Duplex scanning User-friendly interface All-in-one laser	Large paper capacity High-capacity monochrome laser Handles heavy workloads Fast print speed	Feature set Best all-in-one tested Outstanding document print quality Blisteringly quick speed	Fast printing Integrated app Low ink cost Reliable performance	High-resolution color prints Straightforward setup Large ink capacity Fast printing	Fast speed Generous paper capacity Low cost-per-page	Cost per page Versatile inkjet all-in-one Balances speed, quality and cost Low ink consumption per page	High-quality color prints Fast speed Robust build Excellent print quality	Ink-tank system All-in-one Good reliability Laser-like running costs at inkjet pricing	Compact footprint Sells on the HP name	Reliable performance Simple setup Good value Reliable all-in-one	Simple setup Adequate print quality for everyday documents Affordable for occasional use Easy to set up	Solid photo & document printing Small footprint Easy setup Good color fidelity	Large ink tank capacity Good for high volume printing Solid print quality High-quality color photos with vibrant detail	High-resolution color prints Easy Wi-Fi setup Reliable performance Good support	Basic printing Best cheap printer for home use per RTINGS Rock-bottom sticker price The default 'cheap printer' at every big-box store, so it's everywhere
Where it falls short	Slower than the machines ranked above it Less office-capable	Mono-only single function: no color printing, scanning or copying	Still an inkjet - carries clog risk if it sits idle	Less build headroom than the heavier-duty L8930CDW	Slower print speeds compared to peers Higher ink consumption increases running costs Maintenance requirements are greater than expected Slightly more to break than the simpler, cheaper HL-L2460DW	High operating costs Slow speed Overkill and overpriced for light home use	HP's firmware updates and cartridge authentication work against the owner Poor support reputation	Higher purchase price Higher per-page cost compared to ET-2980 Inkjet heads can clog if unused for weeks Middling photo quality	Firmware updates lag Higher failure rate for large tank Steep replacement part costs	Long-term running costs above the true tank printers	Long-term service reputation a notch below Brother Slightly fussier toner pricing	Patchy availability in North America Thin review coverage	No Wi-Fi Higher toner cost per page Minimal feature set Outclassed and out-priced by the Brother HL-L2460DW, which has cheaper toner	Average speed Basic features Limited functionality Toner leakage	Small, expensive cartridges - running costs will quietly double its price Light-duty build Exists largely to upsell buyers to the EcoTank line	Unreliable ink system Frequent error messages Poor color accuracy High cost per page	Poor color accuracy Fragile design Ink leakage Inconsistent print quality	High price for the quality Mediocre print quality Driver issues Slow firmware updates	Frequent printhead clogs Limited firmware support Higher failure rate Slow print speed
Evidence behind it	41 sources across 31 outlets	34 sources across 29 outlets	25 sources across 19 outlets	22 sources across 12 outlets	8 sources across 8 outlets	19 sources across 14 outlets	50 sources across 31 outlets	31 sources across 24 outlets	23 sources across 18 outlets	9 sources across 7 outlets	12 sources across 10 outlets	9 sources across 7 outlets	25 sources across 14 outlets	29 sources across 25 outlets	18 sources across 18 outlets	31 sources across 28 outlets	27 sources across 25 outlets	14 sources across 14 outlets	47 sources across 39 outlets
Flagged as one to avoid	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	1 of 7 research runs	1 of 10 research runs	Not flagged	1 of 6 research runs	1 of 2 research runs	Not flagged	Not flagged	Not flagged	1 of 2 research runs	3 of 8 research runs	Not flagged	2 of 6 research runs	3 of 8 research runs	4 of 9 research runs	3 of 6 research runs
Announced	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Where to buy	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it	Check it

Every column is the same research that built the board. Nothing here is a specification sheet copied from a maker. Read how we rank for what a tier and a ladder point mean.